Point total is Acorns’ highest in more than a decade
CAMPBELL
In a wild and crazy Mount Hamilton Division score fest that featured Live Oak’s highest single-game point total in more than a decade, the Acorns trounced Leigh 62-45 Friday at Westmont High School.
Senior quarterback Dominic Bejarano rushed for 250 yards and four touchdowns and intercepted a pass at cornerback for Live Oak, which turned in a solid night on the heels of back-to-back ugly losses to top-10 powers Oak Grove and Piedmont Hills.
The Acorns (5-4 overall, 3-3 league) are in high gear heading into next week’s showdown at Leland –- and they even stayed healthy Friday.
“It was a huge night for us,” said Live Oak coach Jon Michael, whose team can clinch a Central Coast Section playoff berth with a win over the Chargers. “Overall, I was very happy with the way we executed. We kind of eased up at the end of the first half, but we were up by a lot. That’s a good problem to have.”
The struggling Longhorns (1-7, 1-5) trailed by almost 50 before tallying four late touchdowns against the Acorns’ reserves.
Back at full speed for the first time since suffering a concussion against Oak Grove two weeks ago, Bejarano opened the scoring spree with an 85-yard option keeper and later found the end zone again on the same play; this time from 48 yards out.
“The option destroyed them. It was the best I’ve seen it this year,” Porras said.
Senior split backs Blair Zerr and Cody Van Aken ran for more than 100 yards apiece, with Zerr accounting for three touchdown runs and Van Aken one. Senior wideout Artie Valencia also had a rushing touchdown for the Acorns, who amassed more than 500 total yards.
Live Oak’s starting defense, as banged up as it is, had a big night as well. Senior defensive back Julio Aguayo and junior linebacker Austin Carvalho had interceptions, and senior end Stephan Saade recovered a fumble.
The Acorns have to be just as stingy next week against a Leland team that pulled off a major upset Friday against Piedmont Hills.
The Chargers won the last two meetings with Live Oak by close margins.
“We already knew they were good; Leland is a well-coached team,” Porras said. “We match up well with them every year, so it should be another good game. It’s just a matter of who’s more more assignment sound, who executes better and who’s more prepared.”
